I'll Be Home for Christmas
Bette Midler Lyrics


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I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love
Even more than I usually do
And although I know it's a long road back
I promise you

That I'll be home for Christmas, you can count on me
We'll have snow and mistletoe and presents 'neath the tree
Christmas Eve will find me where the love-light gleams
I'll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams

Christmas Eve will find me where the love-light gleams




I'll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams
If only in my dreams

Overall Meaning

The opening line of Bette Midler's "I'll Be Home For Christmas" sets the tone for a reflective, sentimental holiday piece. The singer is dreaming of a place she loves, and even more than she usually does. This suggests that she is physically far from home, and perhaps this adds to her emotions. She acknowledges that it is a long road back, but she promises to make it home for Christmas. This promise of returning home on this special occasion suggests that home and the Christmas tradition are important to the singer, and she doesn't want to miss out on the festivities that come with it.


The chorus of the song assures the audience that the singer will definitely be home for Christmas, with a promise to share in the familiar holiday rituals - snow, mistletoe, and gifts under the tree. The reference to the "love-light gleams" serves to evoke feelings of warmth and joy that come with the holiday season, and give the impression that even if the singer can't see her loved ones right now, she's thinking of them in that same spirit.


With the final chorus, the singer repeats that she will be home for Christmas, but acknowledges the reality of the situation. Even if she can't physically be with her loved ones, the fact that she's thinking of them on this special day helps her feel closer. This sentiment perfectly captures the ideas of the holiday season, where even if we can't always be together, we're thinking of each other, and sharing our love from afar.


Line by Line Meaning

I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love
I am thinking about a place that I love tonight.


Even more than I usually do
I am thinking about this place more than I normally do.


And although I know it's a long road back
Although I know it is going to be a long journey to get back to this place.


I promise you
I promise to come back to this place.


That I'll be home for Christmas, you can count on me
I will be back for Christmas, you can trust me.


We'll have snow and mistletoe and presents 'neath the tree
We will have snow, mistletoe, and presents below the Christmas tree.


Christmas Eve will find me where the love-light gleams
On Christmas Eve, I will be where the love shines bright.


I'll be home for Christmas if only in my dreams
I will be home for Christmas, even if only in my dreams.


If only in my dreams
If it is only in my dreams.




Lyrics © GANNON & KENT MUSIC CO, Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Buck Ram, Walter Kent, Kim Gannon

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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Coleen Wilson


on Wind Beneath My Wings

lovely song

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